The Story of Brookie Poo!

I thought I should dedicate a whole page to explain a little about our sweet Brooklyn. For those that know us this may seem a little basic but for those that don't know the whole story here it is....you may want a little caffeine, you'll be here a while!

Brooklyn Laura Fisher was born on March 28, 2006 in Salt Lake City, UT. At my 23 week ultrasound we found out that our little girl was going to be born with Spina Bifida. Spina what? Ya, my reaction exactly. We quickly became experts on Spina Bifida and of course are still learning as we go.
Brooklyn was born with an opening in her back that had to be closed at birth. The damage is caused because nerves are exposed when the back is open so they become damaged. The damage is greater or less depending on where the opening on the back is. We also thought that Brooklyn would have to have a shunt put in days after birth as well due to Hydrocephaelus (dont check my spelling on that!) which is fluid on the brain. So a shunt is put in to drain the fluid. They are permanent but they also can malfunction at any time which causes another painful surgery. Many children go through dozens of shunt surgerys, and about 90% of children with Spina Bifida have shunts.Well we were sent home a week later without a shunt and still no shunt to this day. This has been the greatest miracle and blessing in our lives. I remember those first eight months or so thinking the fluid was building every time she cried for long periods of time or acted a little differently. Those were some of the most stressful and trying times.

Brooklyn is truly a miracle and has feeling in most of her legs up until about the bottom of her calf. I still sneak up on her and tickle her foot to see if she pulls it away. Sometimes she does and other times she seems as if she doesn't feel a thing. Because her feet have no feeling she used to bite them and get the biggest kick out of it. It really wasn't funny and caused them to bleed and get infected. Try telling that to a one year old! Brooklyn now will pick up her feet and pet them and say "nice, nice" to show that she wont bite them anymore!
Brooklyn also has bladder problems. She has a hard time going to the bathroom and needs a catheter to go pee every 3-4 hours. Brooklyn has two wonderful grandmas and three wonerful aunts who jumped right in from day one and learned to cathe her so we can leave her for long periods of time. They didn't know what they were getting into when they offered to learn! Because of the catheter brooklyn is on a number of different medications to prevent infections but she has still probably had more than twenty bladder infections. Lots of sleepless nights at our house!
She also has physical therapy and occupational therapy weekly. She thinks this is the greatest because it is one on one and she loves the attention. She also just got glasses and is the cutest thing ever in them! Her feet are still bent and are actually getting worse so she will be getting surgery soon on them so we can continue working on her standing and hopefully someday walking!!!!
If only we could have seen what our little girl would become we never would have shed a tear upon hearing the initial diagnosis. She is so full of life and is the most loving little girl. Several times a day she wraps her arms around us, gives us the wettest kiss, and with the biggest smile and says "happy mommy, happy." Her disability (I hate that word!) has made us a happier stronger family. We still have moments of wanting to never step foot in another doctors office or wanting nothing more than to watch her run and play with her cousins. I have those days more than Jonny, but that day will come and I cant wait to run with my little angel!